Chapter 115 - 105: Passing the Assessment

Chapter 115: Chapter 105: Passing the Assessment

In the days that followed, Zhao Zuo failed to understand why Shen Yunjiao could generate the power of Time.

As time went on, the day of the assessment finally arrived.

「The eighteenth of the third month. Early morning.」

Zhao Zuo got up to prepare breakfast, just like any other day. Shen Yunjiao, who had been cultivating all night, came down the stairs. Her eyes were brimming with Spiritual Light, and she appeared to be in excellent condition, except... a trace of blood-red occasionally flashed in their depths.

The two maintained their usual dynamic at the table, but Shen Yunjiao seemed to be in a bad mood. She had just a few sips of Spirit Rice porridge before putting down her chopsticks and staring blankly into space.

About ten minutes later, Zhao Zuo finished eating, and Shen Yunjiao stood up to clear the table.

"I hope you pass the assessment."

"Thanks," Zhao Zuo replied, then added.

"Remember to keep a room for me. I might be back."

"Alright."

The gloom on Shen Yunjiao’s face vanished. She put down the dishes and held out a slender, jade-like finger.

"Five Spirit Stones."

"No problem."

Seeing Shen Yunjiao’s attitude do a complete one-eighty, Zhao Zuo couldn’t help but sigh to himself. ’What a money-grubber. She hasn’t changed one bit.’

After eating, Zhao Zuo packed his forging tools and various molds. He placed his more valuable possessions into his original Storage Bag, while the less valuable Artifact Refining materials and a Taoist Robe went into the Storage Bag he’d taken from Liu Wuji.

He hung one at his waist with a few Spirit Stones inside.

The other he tucked away inside his robes, holding his entire fortune.

Zhao Zuo did this as a precaution. If he were to be extorted by senior disciples and was no match for them, he could give up a portion of his belongings while protecting his true fortune as much as possible.

Once he finished packing, Zhao Zuo headed to an Earth Fire Chamber and forged two pieces of Spirit Iron to warm up. He could now finish forging a single piece in about eighteen minutes.

Once he was in peak condition, Zhao Zuo cleaned the grime from his body and departed without a second glance.

Not long after he left, Shen Yunjiao also changed into a Taoist Robe and left the small courtyard. Her destination was the Yunlan Mountain Range. They were on the same road, yet heading in opposite directions, growing further and further apart.

Inside the Earth Fire Hall, Zhao Zuo discovered that more than twenty people had already arrived. Most of them wore coarse, short-sleeved shirts and carried half-meter-tall wooden chests on their backs, which contained their tools for Artifact Refining.

"Younger Brother Zhao, you’re taking the assessment this year too?"

The speaker was roughly two meters tall with close-cropped hair, though a few white strands were still visible. His square face was covered in weathered wrinkles.

This man was Li Yuanjun. He had once taught Zhao Zuo’s predecessor how to forge Spirit Iron, making him the mentor who had introduced the original owner of this body to the Path of Artifact Refining.

He was a disciple from a branch of the Li Family, a clan with Foundation Establishment cultivators. A few years ago, feeling that reaching Foundation Establishment was hopeless for him, he returned to his family to raise the next generation, hoping his son might have a shot at an immortal destiny.

"Yeah. After working hard for a few years, I’ve got to give it a shot," Zhao Zuo said, his curiosity piqued. "Brother Li, didn’t you go back to enjoy the good life with your wife? Why are you here for the Outer Sect assessment this year?"

"Hah," Li Yuanjun said, raising an eyebrow. His tone was a mixture of smugness and satisfaction.

"Four years ago, my wife gave birth to a healthy son for me. Not long ago, we had his aptitude tested—he has Three Spirit Roots. For my boy’s future... I had no choice but to come back to my old trade and put in another ten years of hard work."

"Then I must truly congratulate you, Brother Li," Zhao Zuo said, offering a slight bow with cupped hands.

With Li Yuanjun’s skill at forging Spirit Iron, passing the assessment should be no problem for him. That was why he could speak so casually with Zhao Zuo. The others, who lacked confidence in their own skills, were standing by the wall, composing themselves and mentally reviewing their forging techniques.

"A life of hard labor is all it is. Nothing to congratulate," Li Yuanjun said, waving his hand dismissively. If not for the smile that hadn’t left his face for a single moment, Zhao Zuo might have actually fallen for his act.

’With Three Spirit Roots, plus the backing of the Li Family, reaching Qi Cultivation Perfection would be no issue as long as the boy worked hard. If he was determined, he might even have a shot at Foundation Establishment.’

About half an hour later, several attendants in grey clothes appeared at the entrances of two corridors. They brought out two iron boxes and placed them on a wooden table.

"Everyone form two lines! You will take the assessment in groups of five," a young man in a green Taoist Robe announced, walking to the center of the hall.

Nearly eighty people now stood in the hall. At his command, they quickly formed two lines. Zhao Zuo and Li Yuanjun were in the middle of their line, with seven or eight people ahead of them.

"Each corridor has five Forging Chambers," Li Yuanjun said. "You draw lots for your number to prevent anyone from bribing the examiners in advance. The test itself should just be forging Spirit Iron, so don’t be nervous."

"Thanks, Brother Li," Zhao Zuo said gratefully. He understood why Li Yuanjun was being so friendly—they were acquaintances, so it was natural for them to be closer.

’If they both successfully enter the Outer Sect, they can help each other through the hard times.’ Zhao Zuo decided to take this opportunity to properly befriend Li Yuanjun.

"It’s alright. Even if you fail this time, there’s always a next time," Li Yuanjun said comfortingly, his gaze so sincere it was impossible to doubt. In truth, he wasn’t very optimistic about Zhao Zuo’s chances. Back when he first taught him, he had determined that Zhao Zuo’s talent for Artifact Refining was quite limited.

The smile on Zhao Zuo’s face froze. He finally realized... Li Yuanjun wasn’t being so friendly because he wanted them to look out for each other in the Moyun Sect, but because he was worried Zhao Zuo would be crushed by the setback of failure.

"Ha, don’t worry, Brother Li. I’m confident I’ll pass this time," Zhao Zuo explained with a serious expression.

"Sigh... Well, good luck then."